United Hatzalah, Israel’s largest volunteer emergency medical service, has launched a new electric “AmbuScooter” fleet designed to cut response times in the country’s most gridlocked cities.
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The pilot program, announced Tuesday from the organization’s Jerusalem headquarters, introduces ten specially outfitted electric scooters that will operate in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem. The compact vehicles are built to slip through heavy traffic, maneuver narrow streets, and bring volunteers directly to patients in seconds — a key step in United Hatzalah’s push toward a 90-second nationwide response time.
The AmbuScooter fleet will join the organization’s existing lineup of ambulances, AmbuCars, and AmbuCycles, offering a new lightweight option for first responders navigating crowded urban centers.
“These AmbuScooters help us stay ahead of the challenges of modern-day city life,” said United Hatzalah President and Founder Eli Beer. “In places like Tel Aviv, where traffic and parking slow everything down, this fleet will allow our volunteers to get to emergencies without losing precious seconds.”
Each scooter is equipped with a full medical kit and a defibrillator, allowing volunteers to begin lifesaving treatment immediately upon arrival. The initiative is funded entirely through private donors.
“Our volunteers come from all walks of life, united by a mission to save lives,” Beer said. “This new tool helps them do that even faster and more efficiently.”